Minister backs Anzac Trees over Service Station

Queensland’s Heritage Minister has weighed in to the fight to save two Kallangur heritage trees that honour World War 1 soldiers.

One of the Originally Planted Anzac Memorial Avenue Trees, to be destroyedMinister for Environment and Heritage Protection Steven Miles said a slash pine and a crows’ ash in the area of the development application were of cultural heritage significance and needed to be protected.

“Most people I talk to are rightly upset by the idea that trees from a war memorial can be cut down for a service station.

“Especially when a simple a change to the plans to protect them. It is possible for the developers to move the service station driveway further east, away from the trees,” Mr Miles said.

The two trees are protected under the overall listing on the Queensland Heritage Register of Anzac Memorial Avenue, which opened in 1925 and, travelling between Redcliffe and Petrie, is the longest World War I memorial avenue in Queensland.

“Anzac Avenue was also the first bitumen motor road to a seaside resort connected to Brisbane, a response to the growth in car use in the early 1920s,” Mr Miles said.

Mr Miles said the state government had not yet received an application to destroy the trees.

“I’ve asked my Heritage department to carefully review any proposal we receive – I’ve made sure they know I want to see the trees protected,” Mr Miles said.